Homeowner says bird saved his life in explosion

Associated Press

Stamford (AP) — A Stamford homeowner credits a bird for saving his life as his house exploded.

Giuseppe Cardillo tells the Hearst Connecticut Media Group that just after he lit a cigarette the day of the explosion on Sept. 17 a cardinal flew about a foot over his head and landed near a bush.

Still holding the cigarette, he went to get a better look at the bird and walked about 20 feet when he heard a tremendous boom. The next thing he remembers is seeing firefighters with smoldering pieces of his house all around him.

A large part of his roof landed right where he was having his sandwich next to the pool, he said.